Information processing apparatus for automatic order of consumable items

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes a communication interface, a storage, and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire consumable item information including remaining amount information about a remaining amount of a consumable item, determine whether an order condition for ordering a new consumable item is met on the basis of the remaining amount information, determine whether the consumable item has been used in rapid pace on the basis of the remaining amount information, receive a user instruction whether an order of the new consumable item is placed when determining that the consumable item currently in use has been used in rapid pace, and transmit order information including information about the order of the new consumable item to a server when determining that the order condition is met or in response to receipt of the user instruction to place the order of the new consumable item.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priorities from Japanese Patent Application Nos.2015-073530 filed Mar. 31, 2015 and 2016-018663 filed Feb. 3, 2016. Theentire contents of the priority applications are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-109202 discloses animage forming device that transmits a toner cartridge delivery requestto a consumable item management system when a remaining amount of toneris less than a delivery threshold value. In the technique disclosed inJapanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-109202, the deliverythreshold value is determined using statistical data for predictingfuture toner consumption obtained on the basis of measured data of aconsumed amount of a toner and the number of days necessary for deliveryuntil a toner cartridge is delivered after the delivery request istransmitted.

SUMMARY

However, there are cases in which a change in the consumed amount of thetoner greatly changes according to a user's circumstances. This point isnot considered in Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2013-109202. When the consumed amount of the toner increases in rapidpace (that is, the toner is used in rapid pace) during a certain periodof time, the rapid-pace increase is not sufficiently reflected in thestatistical data, a transmission timing of the delivery request isdelayed, and the delivery of the toner cartridge is unlikely to be madein time.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure toprovide an information processing apparatus capable of delivering aconsumable item at an appropriate timing even when the consumable itemis used in rapid pace during a certain period of time.

In order to attain the above and other objects, the disclosure providesan information processing apparatus including: a communication interfaceconfigured to communicate with a server; a storage; and a controller.The controller is configured to: acquire consumable item informationincluding remaining amount information about a remaining amount of aconsumable item currently in use; determine whether or not an ordercondition for ordering a new consumable item is met on the basis of theremaining amount information; determine whether or not the consumableitem currently in use has been used in rapid pace on the basis of theremaining amount information; in response to determining that theconsumable item currently in use has been used in rapid pace, receive auser instruction whether or not an order of the new consumable item isplaced; and in response to determining that the order condition is metor in response to receipt of the user instruction to place the order ofthe new consumable item, transmit order information includinginformation about the order of the new consumable item to the server.

According to another aspects, the disclosure provides an informationprocessing apparatus including a storage and a controller. Thecontroller is configured to: acquire consumable item informationincluding remaining amount information about a remaining amount of aconsumable item currently in use; determine whether or not an ordercondition for ordering a new consumable item is met on the basis of theremaining amount information; determine whether or not the consumableitem currently in use has been used in rapid pace on the basis of theremaining amount information; in response to determining that theconsumable item currently in use has been used in rapid pace, receive auser instruction whether or not an order of the new consumable item isplaced; and in response to determining that the order condition is metor in response to receipt of the user instruction to place the order ofthe new consumable item, determine to order the new consumable item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The particular features and advantages of the disclosure as well asother objects will become apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of aconsumable item ordering system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of amanagement server according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a graphical representation for describing a calculation of anautomatic order threshold;

FIG. 3B is a graphical representation for describing a calculation of anmanual order threshold;

FIG. 4A is a sequence diagram illustrating main operations of therespective devices when a rapid-pace use of the consumable item isdetected;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a warningscreen;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a consumable item order processperformed by a controller of the management server according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a table storedin a storage of the management server according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation for describing the change ofreception time interval performed by a controller of a management serveraccording to a modified example of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a consumable item order processperformed by the controller of the management server according to themodified example of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of amanagement server according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of apersonal computer according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of aprinter according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a consumable item order processperformed by a controller of the printer according to the fourthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An information processing apparatus according to embodiments will bedescribed while referring to the accompanying drawings wherein likeparts and components are designated by the same reference numerals toavoid duplicating description. It would be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. Further, anycomponents and processes described in following embodiments canarbitrary combined.

First Embodiment

First, a first embodiment will be described while referring to FIGS. 1to 8. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration ofa consumable item ordering system 1. The consumable item ordering system1 includes a management server 100, a printer 10, and a shipping server200. As will be described in detail later, the management server 100 ofthe first embodiment can deliver the consumable item to the user of theprinter 10 at an appropriate timing before the consumable item becomesunusable even when the consumable item of the printer 10 is used inrapid pace (that is, the consumed amount in the consumable item of theprinter 10 is increased in rapid pace). The management server 100 is anexample of claimed “information processing apparatus.” The shippingserver 200 is an example of claimed “server.”

In the consumable item ordering system 1, The printer 10 transmitsunique information identifying the printer 10 and consumable iteminformation to the management server 100 at each predetermined timing(for example, at a fixed time every day). In the first embodiment, themanagement server 100 transmits a consumable item informationnotification request at each predetermined timing. The printer 10transmits the consumable item information to the management server 100in response to receipt of the consumable item information notificationrequest. The printer 10 may be configured to periodically transmit theconsumable item information to the management server 100 without usingthe consumable item information notification request from managementserver 100.

The unique information is a unique character string such as a MACaddress of the printer 10, a node name of the printer 10 registered inadvance, a model number of the printer 10, or the serial numberallocated to an individual printer 10. In the present embodiment, theunique information of the printer 10 is the model number of the printer10. The claimed “unique information” may be the serial number or both ofthe model number and the serial number of the printer 10. The claimed“unique information” further may be the MAC address of the printer 10 orthe node name of the printer 10 registered in advance.

The consumable item information includes information (hereinafter,referred to as “remaining amount information”) about the remainingamount of the consumable item in use in the printer 10. The consumableitem is, for example, an ink cartridge. The printer 10 includes a sensorthat detects the remaining amount of the consumable item. Each time theconsumable item information is transmitted, the printer 10 detects theremaining amount of the consumable item and transmits the consumableitem information including the remaining amount information indicatingthe detected remaining amount to the management server 100. Theremaining amount represented by the remaining amount information may bea percentage of the remaining amount indicated by “%” or a physicalamount indicated by “ml” or “g.”

When the consumable item is the ink cartridge, a plurality of inkcartridges are mounted to the printer 10 for usable colors. Theconsumable item information includes information (hereinafter, referredto as “type information”) about a type of the consumable item. That is,the consumable item information includes, for each type of theconsumable item, the type information and remaining amount informationabout the consumable item of the type indicated by the type information.In the present embodiment, the type of the consumable item indicated bythe type information is the model number of the consumable item. Forexample, a color or a capacity of the consumable item can be specifiedby the model number of the consumable item. The type of the consumableitem indicated by the type information may be a color or a capacity ofthe consumable item.

The management server 100 analyzes the consumable item informationreceived from the printer 10. When the remaining amount of theconsumable item reaches a threshold value (that is, when the remainingamount of the consumable item is smaller than the threshold value), themanagement sever 100 determines to order the consumable item andtransmits order information to the shipping server 200. The consumableitem information is analyzed for each type indicated by the typeinformation included in the consumable item information. The orderinformation includes: the type information corresponding to the type ofthe consumable item whose remaining amount has reaches (fallen below)the threshold value; the unique information of the printer 10 that isthe transmission source of the consumable item information for theconsumable item that is the order target; and an order request.

As will be described in detail later, the management server 100determines whether or not the consumable item has been used in rapidpace on the basis of the analysis of the consumable item informationreceived from the printer 10. When the management server 100 determinesthat the consumable item has been used in rapid pace although theremaining amount of the consumable item has not yet reached thethreshold value (i.e., “an automatic order threshold value” to bedescribed later), the management server 100 displays on the printer 10 aselection screen. In the selection screen, whether or not an order of anew consumable item is needed can be inputted (selected) in order toreplace the rapid-pace used consumable item with the new consumableitem. Then, when selection to order the new consumable item is inputtedon the selection screen, the management server 100 determines to orderthe consumable item and transmits the order information to the shippingserver 200, similarly to a case when the remaining amount of theconsumable item has reached the automatic order threshold value.

The shipping server 200 stores a shipping information table includingthe unique information of the printer 10 registered by each user, themodel number of the consumable item that is the type of the consumableitem, and information (hereinafter, simply referred to as “deliverydestination information”) about a delivery destination of the consumableitem for a plurality of printers 10. The shipping information table hascontents for each user, that include the unique information, the modelnumber, and the delivery destination information associated with oneanother. The delivery destination information is, for example, anaddress of a delivery destination. Each information stored in theshipping information table is registered in advance by the user. In theshipping information table, for each color of the consumable item, thecolor may be associated with the model number of the consumable item asthe type of the consumable item.

When the shipping server 200 receives the order information from themanagement server 100, the shipping server 200 specifies the modelnumber of the consumable item and the delivery destination informationcorresponding to the unique information included in the received orderinformation with reference to the shipping information table. Theshipping server performs a process for delivering the consumable item ofthe specified model number to the delivery destination indicated by thespecified delivery destination information. As a result of the process,the consumable item of the model number corresponding to the orderinformation transmitted to the shipping server 200 on the basis of theconsumable item information received by the management server 100 fromthe printer 10 is delivered to the delivery destination corresponding tothe order information, that is, the consumable item of the model numbercorresponding to the order information is delivered to the user havingthe printer 10 that is the target of the order information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration ofthe management server 100. The management server 100 is provided, forexample, by a vendor of the printer 10. The management server 100 may bea device having a known server function. The management server 100 isprovided with a controller 101, a storage 102, and a network interface(hereinafter, referred to as a “network I/F”) 103, all of which areconnected to each other via an input/output port 104.

The controller 101 includes a CPU and a ROM and a RAM that areelectrically connected to the CPU, and constitutes a computer. The CPUcontrols an operation of the management server 100 according to aprogram and data stored in the ROM and the storage 102. The controller101 is an example of claimed “controller.”

The storage 102 is a non-volatile memory device. The storage 102 is, forexample, a hard disk drive. The storage 102 stores various kinds ofprograms for controlling the operation of the management server 100,such as a program for executing respective processes described laterwhile referring to FIG. 5 through the controller 101. The storage 102stores, for each user, the unique information of the printer 10registered by the user. The network I/F 103 is a device forcommunicating with other devices connected to the Internet 800. A knownnetwork card may be employed as the network I/F 103. The managementserver 100 is connected to the Internet 800 via the network I/F 103. Thestorage 102 is an example of claimed “storage.” The network I/F 103 isan example of claimed “communication I/F.”

The printer 10 includes a controller 11, a print processor 12, aconnector 13, a reader 14, a detection sensor 15, and a network I/F 16,all of which are connected to each other via an input/output port 17.The controller 11 includes a CPU (not illustrated) and a ROM and a RAMthat are electrically connected to the CPU, and constitutes a computer.The CPU controls an operation of the printer 10 according to a programand data stored in the ROM.

The print processor 12 is a printing mechanism and includes an ink jethead. The controller 11 inputs a driving signal to the print processor12, and the ink jet head ejects ink from a nozzle according to theinputted driving signal. The print processor 12 may be a laser printingmechanism.

The connector 13 is connectable to a cartridge 21 filled with ink usedfor the print processor 12. The cartridges 21 that correspond to thenumber of usable ink colors according to the type of the printer 10 canbe connected to the connector 13. In other words, one or more cartridges21 corresponding to the type of the printer 10 can be connected to theconnector 13. Attached to the cartridge is an IC chip storing a serialID identifying the cartridge 21.

The reader 14 is configured to read the serial ID from the IC chipattached to the cartridge 21 connected to the connector 13. Thedetection sensor 15 is configured to detect the remaining amount of theink in each of the cartridges 21 connected to the connector 13. Thenetwork I/F 16 is a device for communicating with other devicesconnected to the Internet 800. The printer 10 is configured to beconnected to a router 30 via the network I/F 16. Accordingly, theprinter 10 is connectable to the Internet 800 via the router 30.

Communication between the management server 100 and the printer 10 ispreformed according to a connection establishment type protocol, morespecifically, an XMPP over BOSH (an abbreviation of Extensible Messagingand Presence Protocol Over Bidirectional-Streams Over Synchronous HTTP).The XMPP over BOSH is an always-on connection type or a connectionmaintaining type protocol in which a connection-established state issubstantially constantly maintained. Meanwhile, communication betweenthe management server 100 and the shipping server 200 is performedaccording to a HTTP (an abbreviation of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

Next, determination of an order of the consumable item in the managementserver 100 will be described while referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B. Themanagement server 100 calculates use prediction information of theconsumable item currently in use at every predetermined timing (forexample, every day at a fixed time) on the basis of a plurality ofpieces of the remaining amount information received from the printer 10.

Specifically, the use prediction information is calculated on the basisof a variation with time in the remaining amount represented by thereceived remaining amount information.

For example, the consumable item information is received (or acquired)every day at a fixed time, each time the consumable item information isreceived from the printer 10, the remaining amount represented by theremaining amount information included in the current consumable iteminformation (that is, the currently received consumable iteminformation) is recorded (or stored) as a current remaining amount withrespect to the consumable item of the type indicated by the typeinformation included in the current consumable item information. Thecurrent remaining amount (that, is the currently recorded remainingamount) is associated with a date on which the current consumable iteminformation is received. This recording of the remaining amount isstarted from a replacement date on which the consumable item replaces aconsumable item previously used. For example, a date P illustrated inFIG. 3A is the replacement date.

Next, a first primary regression straight line is calculated as firstuse prediction information on the basis of the recorded remainingamounts representing the variation with time in the remaining amount ofthe consumable item currently in use. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 3A, a first primary regression straight line L1 is calculated onthe basis of the remaining amount records during a period of time fromthe date P to the date Q which is Da days after the date P. All therecorded remaining amounts during days from the date P to the date Qneed not be used for the calculation of the first primary regressionstraight line L1. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the recorded remaining amountsrepresenting the variation in the remaining amount with time are notillustrated. The first use prediction information is an example ofclaimed “first consumption inclining.” The first primary regressionstraight line L1 is also an example of claimed “first consumptioninclining.” The period of time from the date P to the date Q (Da in FIG.3A) is an example of claimed “first period of time.” The date P is anexample of “first timing.” The date Q is an example of “second timing.”

Subsequently, a threshold value (hereinafter, referred to as “automaticorder threshold value”) for determining an order of the consumable itemis calculated on the basis of the calculated first primary regressionstraight line and the number of days (hereinafter, referred to as“number of required delivery days”) required for delivery of theconsumable item.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, a remaining amount TH iscalculated as the automatic order threshold value on the basis of thefirst primary regression straight line L1 and the number of requireddelivery days Db. More specifically, on the basis of the first primaryregression straight line L1, calculated is a date R on which theremaining amount of consumable item currently in use is predicted toreach a remaining amount A. The remaining amount A is such a smallamount that the consumable item is determined to be unusable in theprinter 10. That is, on the date R the consumable item currently in useis predicted to be unusable. The remaining amount TH is calculated asthe automatic threshold value on the basis of a date S traced back fromthe date R by the number of required delivery days Db and the firstprimary regression straight line L1. In FIG. 3, the remaining amount THis indicated by a point J on the primary regression straight line L1corresponding to the date S. The remaining amount A may be zero or maybe a value slightly larger than zero. The automatic order thresholdvalue is an example of claimed “first threshold value.” The remainingamount TH is also an example of claimed “first threshold value.”

The number of required delivery days Db is calculated on the basis ofthe delivery destination information. For example, when the deliverydestination information includes an address, a zip code, or a telephonenumber, the number of required delivery days Db is calculated as thenumber of days required for delivering the consumable item to a house ora region specified by the address and the like described above. In thefirst embodiment, the delivery destination information is stored in theshipping server 200 for each unique information. Thus, for calculatingthe number of required delivery days Db, the management server 100acquires, from the shipping server 200, the delivery destinationinformation corresponding to the unique information of the printer 10that is the transmission source of the consumable item information.

The delivery destination information corresponding to each uniqueinformation may be stored in the management server 100. In this case,the delivery destination information stored in the management server 100may be registered by the user or may be acquired periodically (forexample, daily or monthly) from the shipping server 200.

Further, for example, the shipping server 200 may store the number ofrequired delivery days corresponding to the delivery destinationinformation. In such case, the management server 100 may be configuredto acquire the stored number of required delivery days from the shippingserver 200 and set the number of required delivery days Db to theacquired number of required delivery days.

The recording of the remaining amount described above is performed foreach type of the consumable item indicated by the type informationincluded in the consumable item information. The recording of theremaining amount is newly started each time the consumable item mountedto the printer 10 is replaced with a new consumable item. The consumableitem information includes the number of times (hereinafter, referred toas the “number of replacements”) the consumable item of the typeindicated by the type information is replaced.

The recording of the remaining amount is newly started each time thenumber of replacements included in the consumable item informationchanges. In FIG. 3A, the date P is a date on which the number ofreplacements included in the consumable item information changes. Theprinter 10 includes a replacement counter for each type of theconsumable item. The replacement counter counts the number ofreplacements of the consumable item. The replacement counter isinitialized to zero at the time of factory shipping of the printer 10.The printer 10 includes the number of replacements corresponding to thevalue of the replacement counter in the consumable item information.

The management server 100 according to the first embodiment determineswhether or not the consumable item has been used in rapid pace on thebasis of the consumable item information acquired from the printer 10.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, a second primary regressionstraight line L2 is calculated as second use prediction information onthe basis of the recorded remaining amounts during a period of time froma date T traced back from the date Q by a predetermined number of daysDc (for example, 3 days) to the date Q on which the consumable iteminformation is most recently acquired. All the recorded remainingamounts during days from the date T to the date Q need not be used forthe calculation of the second primary regression straight line L2. Thesecond use prediction information is an example of claimed “secondconsumption inclining.” The second primary regression straight line L2is also an example of claimed “second consumption inclining.” The periodof time from a date T to the date Q (Dc in FIG. 3B) is an example ofclaimed “second period of time.” The date T is claimed “third timing.”The a predetermined number of days Dc is claimed “predetermined periodof time.”

In the present embodiment, when an absolute value of a gradient of thesecond primary regression straight line L2 is equal to or larger than aspecific gradient value, the consumable item is determined to have beenused in rapid pace. Thus, since the determination whether or not theconsumable item has been used in rapid pace is performed on the basis ofthe absolute value of the gradient of the second primary regressionstraight line L2, the determination can quantitatively be performed.

Next, calculated is the specific gradient value (hereinafter, referredto as “manual order threshold value”) for determining whether or not theconsumable item has been used in rapid pace. The manual order thresholdvalue with respect to the gradient of the second primary regressionstraight line L2 is calculated on the basis of the date Q on which theconsumable item information has been most recently received from theprinter 10, the remaining amount represented by the remaining amountinformation included in the most recently received consumable iteminformation, and the number of required delivery days Db. The manualorder threshold value is an example of claimed “specific value.” Thespecific gradient value is also an example of claimed “specific value.”

Specifically, for calculating the manual order threshold value,calculated is a threshold straight line representing an assumed usageinclining (an assumed consumption inclining) obtained under theassumption that the remaining amount of the consumable item on the dateQ (that is, the remaining amount indicated by the remaining amountinformation included in the consumable item information received on thedate Q) reaches the remaining amount A after the number of requireddelivery days Db elapses from the date Q. Then, a gradient of thecalculated threshold straight line is calculated as the manual orderthreshold value. When the absolute value of the gradient of the secondprimary regression straight line L2 is larger than an absolute value ofthe gradient of the calculated threshold straight line (that is, thecalculated manual order threshold value), the consumable item isdetermined to have been used in rapid pace. The absolute value of thegradient of the calculated threshold straight line is an example of“specific value.”

The manual order threshold value may be calculated in relation toreception time interval of the consumable item information in additionto the date Q on which the consumable item information has been mostrecently received from the printer 10, the remaining amount of theconsumable item indicated by the remaining amount information includedin the consumable item information received on the date Q, and thenumber of required delivery days Db. When the reception time interval ofthe consumable item information is relatively long, the reception timeinterval influences an order timing of the consumable item, and there isa possibility that the consumable item will not be ordered in time. Onthe other hand, the problematic possibility can be reduced byconsidering the reception time interval of the consumable iteminformation.

For example, the gradient calculated as manual order threshold value maybe adjusted according to the reception time interval. Specifically, theabsolute value of the calculated gradient is increased as the receptiontime interval increases, and the absolute value of the calculatedgradient is decreased as the reception time interval decreases. Forexample, when the usage inclining (the consumption inclining) of theconsumable item currently in use is further increased until theconsumable item information is received at next time, there is apossibility that an order is not placed in adequate time. In the abovemodified example, since the manual order threshold is adjusted on thebasis of the reception time interval, the problematic possibility can bereduced.

FIG. 4A is a sequence diagram illustrating main operations of therespective devices when the management server 100 detects the rapid-paceuse of the consumable item in the consumable item ordering system 1. Theprinter 10 transmits the consumable item information to the managementserver 100 at a predetermined timing (P1). When the rapid-pace use ofthe consumable item is detected on the basis of the consumable iteminformation received from the printer 10 (K1), the management server 100transmits an warning screen display instruction to the printer 10 (K2).

The printer 10 display an warning screen on a display (for example, aliquid crystal display device) according to the warning screen displayinstruction received from the management server 100 (P2). FIG. 4B is aschematic diagram illustrating an example of an warning screen 20displayed on the display of the printer 10. Displayed on the warningscreen 20A are a message 20 a, a Yes button 20 b, and a No button 20 c.

The message 20 a is a message for warning that the consumable item hasbeen used in rapid pace. The Yes button 20 b is a button for inputtingselection for manually ordering a new consumable item. The No button 20c is a button for inputting selection for not manually ordering the newconsumable item.

In response to receipt of the selection of the manual order inputted tothe warning screen 20, the printer 10 transmits the order request to themanagement server 100 (P3). In other words, in response to receipt of anmanipulation to the Yes button 20 b of the warning screen 20, theprinter 10 determines that the selection of the manual order isreceived, and thus transmits the order request.

The management server 100 transmits the order information to theshipping server 200 on the basis of the order request received from theprinter 10 (K3). After transmitting the order information to theshipping server 200, the management server 100 may control an ordercompletion screen including the type of the consumable item that is theorder target and an estimated delivery date to be displayed on theprinter 10.

The shipping server 200 performs a consumable item delivery process onthe basis of the order information received from the management server100 (H1). When the shipping server 200 performs the delivery process,the consumable item ordered according to the order information isdelivered to the delivery destination indicated by the deliverydestination information associated with the unique information of theprinter 10 that has transmitted the order request. Thus, the consumableitem ordered according to the order information is delivered to the userhaving the printer 10 that has transmitted the order request.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the consumable item order process.This process is performed by the CPU of the controller 101 (hereinafter,referred to simply as a “CPU”) of the management server 100. Thisprocess starts as electric power is supplied to the management server100. The CPU is on standby for reception of a notification from theprinter 10 (S501). The CPU determines whether or not the notificationhas been received from the printer 10 (S502). When the CPU determinesthat the notification has not been received from the printer 10 (S502:No), the CPU performs the process in S501 again.

On the other hand, when the CPU determines that the notification is hasbeen received from the printer 10 (S502: Yes), the CPU determines a typeof the received notification (S503). When the CPU determines that thereceived notification is a notification of the consumable iteminformation (S503: consumable item information), the CPU analyzes thereceived consumable item information, and stores information includedtherein (S604).

The consumable item information includes the remaining amountinformation, the type information, the number of replacements, and aprint count. The “print count” is a value indicating the number of pagesprinted using the current consumable item for the consumable item of thetype indicated by the type information included in the consumable iteminformation. The printer 10 includes a print counter. The print countercounts, for each type of the consumable item, the number of pagesprinted using the current consumable item. The print counter isinitialized to zero each time the consumable item is replaced. Theprinter 10 includes the value of the print counter in the consumableitem information as the print count.

In S504, the CPU updates the use prediction information on the basis ofthe analysis result. In other words, the CPU calculates the firstprimary regression straight line L1 as the first use predictioninformation, and calculates the second primary regression straight lineL2 as the second use prediction information. In S504, the CPU updatesthe automatic order threshold value and the manual order thresholdvalue.

The CPU determines whether or not the remaining amount of the consumableitem indicated by the remaining amount information included in thereceived consumable item information has reached the automatic orderthreshold value updated in S504, that is, is smaller than the thresholdvalue (S505). When the remaining amount according to the receivedconsumable item information is determined to have reached the automaticorder threshold value (S505: Yes), the CPU determines whether or not themanual order has been already made (S506). Specifically, the CPUdetermines whether or not the manual order through the warning screen 20has already been made with respect to the consumable item whoseremaining amount has reached the automatic order threshold value (S506).

When the manual order is determined to have not been made (S506: No),the CPU transmits the order information to the shipping server 200 as anorder action (S507), and subsequently performs the process in S501. Theprocess of S507 performed by the CPU corresponds to the process of K3 inthe sequence diagram of FIG. 4A. As described above, the orderinformation transmitted to the shipping server 200 includes: the typeinformation corresponding to the type of the consumable item in whichthe remaining amount has reached the automatic order threshold value;the unique information of the printer 10 that is the transmission sourceof the consumable item information for the consumable item that is theorder target; and the order request.

When the remaining amount indicated by the received consumable iteminformation is determined to have not reached the automatic orderthreshold value yet (S505: No), the CPU determines whether or not therapid-pace use of the consumable item has been detected (S509). In otherwords, the CPU determines whether or not the absolute value of thegradient of the second primary regression straight line L2 has reachedthe manual order threshold value. When the rapid-pace use of theconsumable item has been detected, that is, when the absolute value ofthe gradient of the second primary regression straight line L2 hasexceeded the manual order threshold value, the CPU determines that therapid-pace use of the consumable item has been detected.

When the rapid-pace use of the consumable item is determined to have notbeen detected in S509 (S509: No), the CPU performs the process in S501.On the other hand, when the rapid-pace use of the consumable item isdetermined to have been detected (S509: Yes), the CPU transmits thewarning screen display instruction to the printer 10 in which therapid-pace use of the consumable item has been detected (S510). Thedetermination by the CPU that the rapid-pace use of the consumable itemhas been detected in S509 corresponds to the process of K1 in thesequence diagram of FIG. 4A.

As a result of the process in S510, the warning screen 20 is displayedon the display unit of the printer 10. The process of S510 performed bythe CPU corresponds to the process of K2 in the sequence diagram of FIG.4A. After performing the process of S510, the CPU subsequently performsthe process in S501. According to the processes of S505, S509, and S510,even in the situation in which the remaining amount indicated by theremaining amount information included in the received consumable iteminformation does not reach the automatic order threshold value, when therapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected, the management server100 transmits the warning screen display instruction to the printer 10,and the warning screen 20 is consequently displayed on the printer 10.

When the received notification is determined to be the notification ofthe order request in S503 (S503: order request), the CPU performs theprocess in S507. When the Yes button 20 b of the warning screen 20 ismanipulated or when an instruction to place an order is inputted to aconfirmation screen (not illustrated) described later, the notificationof the order request is transmitted from the printer 10 to themanagement server 100. In other words, the transmission of the orderinformation in S507 is performed when the remaining amount of theconsumable item indicated by the remaining amount information receivedfrom the printer 10 has reached the automatic order threshold value orwhen the order instruction is inputted to the warning screen 20displayed on the printer 10 on the basis of the detection of therapid-pace use of the consumable item.

Further, when the process of S507 is performed on the basis of thereception of the notification of the order request, the CPU storesmanual order completion information indicating that the process of S507has been already performed in the storage 102. The CPU performs thedetermination of S506 on the basis of whether or not the manual ordercompletion information is stored in the storage 102. The manual ordercompletion information stored in the storage 102 is cleared when thecorresponding consumable item is replaced. The storage destination ofthe manual order completion information may be the RAM of the controlunit 101.

When the received notification is determined to be any othernotification (S503: other), the CPU performs the process in S501. Anyother notification is transmitted from the printer 10 to the managementserver 100 when the No button 20 c of the warning screen 20 is operatedor when an instruction not to place an order is inputted to theconfirmation screen.

When the manual order is determined to have been made in S506 (S506:Yes), the CPU transmits an instruction (hereinafter, referred to as a“confirmation screen display instruction”) to display the confirmationscreen to the printer 10 (S508). After performing the process of S508,the CPU performs the process in S501. The confirmation screen (notillustrated) displayed on the display of the printer 10 is a screendisplayed when the remaining amount of the consumable item reaches theautomatic order threshold value after the manual order is placed.

The confirmation screen is a screen for confirming whether or not theautomatic order is placed according to the remaining amount of theconsumable item reaching the automatic order threshold value despite ofthe completion of the manual order. The screen includes a message forconfirming whether or not the automatic order is placed after the manualorder is already placed, a button for inputting an instruction to placean order, and a button for inputting an instruction not to place anorder. After the confirmation screen display instruction is initiallytransmitted in S508, when the corresponding consumable item is replaced,the CPU transmits an instruction to erase the confirmation screen to theprinter 10. Alternatively, the printer 10 that has received theconfirmation screen display instruction may display the confirmationscreen and then may erase the confirmation screen after a predeterminedperiod of time (for example, after 6 hours).

When the manual order is performed on the basis of the rapid-pace use ofthe consumable item, even if the automatic order condition is met later,an order is likely to be unnecessary because the consumable item isredundantly ordered. In this regard, according to the processes of S505,S506, and S508, when the automatic order condition is met after themanual order is placed, the confirmation screen is displayed on theprinter 10 without placing an order (that is, without transmitting theorder information). Therefore an unnecessary consumable item can beprevented from being delivered uselessly. On the other hand, even whenthe manual order is not placed although the consumable item is used inrapid pace, if the automatic order condition is met later, the orderinformation is transmitted to the shipping server 200 in S507.

In the consumable item order process, the values included in theconsumable item information received from the printer 10 are stored in atable 102 a (see FIG. 6) installed in the storage 102 of the managementserver 100. In the table 102 a, type information 102 a 2, a remainingamount 102 a 3, the number of replacements 102 a 4, a print count 102 a5, and manual order completion information 102 a 6 are associated withunique information 102 a 1.

When the management server 100 receives the consumable item informationfrom the printer 10 in S504, the values included in the receivedconsumable item information are stored in the table 102 a for the uniqueinformation 102 a 1 identifying the printer that is the transmissionsource of the consumable item information. Specifically, the values ofthe remaining amount information, the number of replacements, and theprint count included in the consumable item information are stored inthe remaining amount 102 a 3, the number of replacements 102 a 4, andthe print count 102 a 5, respectively, for each type of the consumableitem indicated by the type information 102 a 2 included in theconsumable item information.

The unique information 102 a 1 that is the model number of the printer10 and the type information 102 a 2 that is the model number of the inkcartridge is information registered by the user. The unique information102 a 1 may be a serial number of the printer 10. Information indicatingwhether or not the manual order has been placed, that is, informationindicating whether or not the process of S507 has been performed on thebasis of the reception of the notification of the order request isstored in the manual order completion information 102 a 6.

According to the management server 100 of the first embodiment, when therapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected on the basis of thechange in the remaining amount of the consumable item indicated by theremaining amount information included in the consumable item informationreceived from the printer 10, the user can manually order a newconsumable item through the warning screen 20 displayed on the printer10. Thus, even when the remaining amount of the consumable item does notreach the automatic order threshold value, the management server 100 cantransmit the order information to the shipping server 200 on the basisof the manual order placed by the user. Therefore, the order of the newconsumable item can be placed in adequate time despite the rapid-paceusage of the consumable item. Consequently, an occurrence of aproblematic situation in which the user cannot use the printer 10 owingto the completely consumed consumable item can be avoided.

Particularly, when the rapid-pace use of the consumable item isdetected, the management server 100 transmits the order information inresponse to receipt of the manual order placed by the user. Thus, in asituation in which the detected rapid-pace use is temporary and it isunnecessary to place an order in view of the remaining amount of theconsumable item, the consumable item can be prevented from beinginappropriately ordered.

While the first embodiment has been described above, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the first embodiment. It would be apparentto those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Themanagement server 100 in the present disclosure can be realized invarious manners or forms, such as a controller, a control method, and acontrol program for controlling an information processing apparatus, astorage medium storing the control program.

For example, in the above embodiments, one server that physically existshas been described as the management server 100 as an example of“claimed information processing apparatus.” The management server 100may be a virtual machine that functions as one server by collaborationof a plurality of physical devices. For example, the management server100 may be configured to function as one server by collaboration of afirst server that receives the consumable item information from theprinter 10 and a second server that determines whether or not an orderis placed on the basis of the consumable item information acquired fromthe first server. Further, the management server 100 may be configuredto have the function of the shipping server 200.

In the above embodiments, the printer 10 has been described as anexample of a device connected to the management server 100, but theprinter 10 may be a multi-function peripheral device having at least aprinting function. In the above embodiments, the ink cartridge has beendescribed as an example of the consumable item, but the consumable itemmay be the toner cartridge.

In the above embodiments, the printer 10 is configured to transmit theconsumable item information directly to the management server 100 viathe Internet 800. Alternatively, the consumable item information of theprinter 10 may be indirectly transmitted to the management server 100through an information processing apparatus such as an PC. In this case,a connection between the printer 10 and the information processingapparatus that relays the consumable item information received from theprinter 10 may be a wired connection by a USB or a LAN, or a wirelessconnection by a wireless LAN.

The word “receive” encompasses both the case in which claimed“controller” receives information directly from an external device andthe case in which the claimed “controller” receives informationindirectly from an external device. The word “acquire” encompasses boththe case in which the claimed “controller” acquires information directlyfrom an external device and the case in which the claimed “controller”acquires information indirectly from an external device. Also, the word“acquire” further encompasses both the case in which the claimed“controller” acquires information from an external device and the casein which the claimed “controller” acquires information from its owndevice, for example, in a case a controller of an information processingapparatus acquires information from a storage or a detection sensorprovided in the information processing apparatus.

In the above embodiment, when the absolute value of the gradient of thesecond primary regression straight line L2 is equal to or larger thanthe specific gradient value (that is, the manual order threshold value),the consumable item is determined to have been used in rapid pace.Alternatively, when a difference between the remaining amount of theconsumable item indicated by the remaining amount information includedin the currently acquired consumable item information (that is, the mostrecently acquired consumable item information) and the remaining amountof the consumable item indicated by the remaining amount informationincluded in the immediately previously acquired consumable iteminformation is equal to or larger than a specific difference valueserving as the manual order threshold value, the consumable item may bedetermined to have been used in rapid pace. Even in the present modifiedexample, similarly to the above embodiment, it can be quantitativelydetermined whether or not the consumable item has been used in rapidpace.

Further, even in the above modified example using the difference betweenthe current remaining amount and the immediately previous remainingamount, similarly to the first embodiment employing the gradient of thesecond primary regression straight line L2, the specific differencevalue can be calculated on the basis of: the date Q on which theconsumable item information has been most recently received from theprinter 10; the remaining amount of the consumable item indicated by theremaining amount information included in the consumable item informationreceived on the date Q; and the number of required delivery days Db. Inthe present modified example, the manual threshold value is an exampleof claimed “specific value.” The specific difference value is an exampleof claimed “specific value.”.

Specifically, the specific difference value (the manual order thresholdvalue in the present modified example) is calculated by dividingsubstantially usable amount by the number of times the consumable iteminformation is received during the number of required delivery days. Thesubstantially usable amount is obtained by subtracting the remainingamount A from the remaining amount (for example, the remaining amount onthe date Q) represented by the remaining amount information included inthe currently received consumable item information (for example, theconsumable item information received on the date Q). Consequently, thespecific difference value is a consumption amount of the consumable itemduring the reception time interval of the consumable item informationunder the assumption that the remaining amount on the date Q reaches theremaining amount A after the number of required delivery day Db elapsesform the date Q. When the difference between the remaining amount of thecurrently received consumable item information (that is, the consumableitem information received on the date Q) and the remaining amount of theimmediately previously received consumable item information is largerthan the calculated specific difference value, the consumable itemcurrently in use is determined to have been used in rapid pace. Further,the specific difference value may be calculated in relation to thereception time interval of the consumable item information. In otherwords, as the reception time interval increases, the manual orderthreshold value (the specific difference value) may be increased.

In the above embodiments, the first and second primary regressionstraight lines have been described as the first and second useprediction information of the consumable item. However, if informationcan be used to statistically predict a consumption state of theconsumable item, various kinds of statistically calculated predictionformulas can be used without being limited to the primary regressionstraight line. In the above embodiments, each time the consumable itemmounted to the printer 10 is replaced, the recorded remaining amountsrepresenting the variation in the remaining amount with time is started,and the first use prediction information (the first primary regressionstraight line L1) is calculated, but the first use predictioninformation may be calculated using previous data (or former data), thatis, values of the variation with time in the remaining amount of theconsumable item mounted prior to the currently mounted consumable item.

In the above embodiments, the value indicating the remaining amount ofthe consumable item is used as the remaining amount information, but theprint count included in the consumable item information may be used asthe remaining amount information as well. In other words, the value ofthe print count may be an index of the remaining amount of theconsumable item.

In the above embodiment, the management server 100 receives theconsumable item information from the printer 10 at a constant timeinterval, that is, the reception time interval is constant, but notlimited to this. The reception time interval of the consumable iteminformation may be reduced as the remaining amount becomes closer to theautomatic order threshold value. For example, when the remaining amountindicated by the remaining amount information reaches an anotherthreshold value that is larger than the automatic order threshold value,the reception time interval of the consumable item information isreduced. For example, when the remaining amount indicated by theremaining amount information reaches the another threshold value, thereception time interval in which once per day (that is, time intervalsof 24 hours) is set as a default is reduced to 8 times per day (that is,time intervals of 3 hours).

The above modified example will be specifically described with referenceto FIGS. 7 and 8. In the description of FIGS. 7 and 8, the same parts asin the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, andthus a description thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, a remaining amount TH′ iscalculated as an another threshold value on the basis of the firstprimary regression straight line L1 and a predetermined number of days(for example, 7 days). For calculating the another threshold value, onthe basis of the first primary regression straight line L1, calculatedis a date S on which the remaining amount of consumable item currentlyin use is predicted to reach a remaining amount TH (that is, theautomatic order threshold value). Subsequently, the remaining amount TH′is calculated as the another threshold value on the basis of the firstprimary regression straight line L1 and a date U traced back from thedate S by the predetermined number of days. In FIG. 7, the remainingamount TH′ is indicated by a point J′ on the primary regression straightline L1 corresponding to the date U. Alternatively, the anotherthreshold value may be set to a value obtained by adding prescribedamount to the remaining amount TH.

When the remaining amount of the consumable item indicated by theremaining amount information included in the consumable item informationmost recently received from the printer 10 on the date Q reaches theanother threshold value (the remaining amount TH′), the CPU of thecontrol unit 101 changes a transmission time interval of the consumableitem information notification request from a default time interval to aspecific time interval shorter than the default time interval. Forexample, when the default transmission time interval is 24 hours and atransmission time interval after the remaining amount of the consumableitem reaches the another threshold value is 3 hours, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the reception time interval of the consumable item informationby the management server 100 is 24 hours before the remaining amountreaches the another threshold value, and the reception time interval is3 hours after the remaining amount reaches the another threshold value.Further, when the consumable item ordering system 1 does not employ theconsumable item information notification request, the management server100 transmits an instruction to change the transmission time interval ofthe consumable item information to the printer 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the CPU of the control unit 101determines that the remaining amount according to the receivedconsumable item information has not reached the automatic orderthreshold value (the remaining amount TH) (S505: No), the CPU determineswhether or not the remaining amount has reached the another thresholdvalue (that is, whether or not the remaining amount has fallen below theremaining amount TH′) (S701). When the remaining amount of theconsumable item is determined to have not reached the another thresholdvalue (S701: No), the CPU performs the process in S501. On the otherhand, when the remaining amount is determined to have reached theanother threshold value (S701: Yes), the transmission time interval ofthe consumable item information notification request is changed to thespecific time interval shorter than the default time interval (S702).After the transmission time interval is changed in S702, when theremaining amount is again determined to have reached the anotherthreshold value (S701: Yes), the CPU performs the process of S509without performing the process of S702 (that is, the process in S702 isskipped).

As described above, when the remaining amount is close to the automaticorder threshold value, the reception time interval of the consumableitem information is shortened. Thus, the influence of the reception timeinterval of the management server 100 against an order timing of theconsumable item can be reduced. Consequently, an occurrence of asituation where the consumable item is not ordered in time can besuppressed. Further, since number of the recorded remaining amounts usedfor calculating the second primary regression straight line L2 servingas the second use prediction information can be increased, enhancedaccuracy for determining whether or not the rapid-pace use of theconsumable item is detected can be obtained.

In the above embodiment and modified examples, in the consumable itemorder process of FIGS. 5 and 8, each time the CPU determines that theremaining amount of the consumable item indicated by the remainingamount information has not reached the automatic order threshold value,the CPU determines whether or not the rapid-pace use of the consumableitem has been detected in S509. However, when there is sufficiently alarge remaining amount of the consumable item, a situation where it isunnecessary to immediately order a new consumable item although therapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected may occur.

In view of this situation, it may be determined whether or not therapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected when the remainingamount of the consumable item is relatively close to the automatic orderthreshold value. For example, when the remaining amount indicated by theremaining amount information is determined to have not reached theautomatic order threshold value, the CPU may determine whether or notthe difference between the indicated remaining amount and the automaticorder threshold value is equal to or smaller than a specific thresholdvalue. When the difference is determined to be equal to or smaller thanthe specific threshold value, the CPU may perform the process of S509.According to the present modified example, in the situation in whichalthough it is unnecessary to immediately order the new consumable item,the CPU does not display the warning screen 20 on the printer 10,thereby preventing the user from being urged to select whether or notthe new consumable item is ordered. The specific threshold value is anexample of claimed “specific value.”

In the first embodiment, when the rapid-pace use of the consumable itemis detected, the warning screen 20 is displayed on the printer 10, andthen the user is urged to select whether or not the consumable item isordered. When the rapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected, theuser may be urged to select a first delivery form in which a newconsumable item is delivered in the normal number of delivery days or asecond delivery form in which a new consumable item is delivered in thespecial number of delivery days shorter than the normal number ofdelivery days. For example, it is desirable to install a button forselecting the second delivery form on the warning screen 20 illustratedin FIG. 4B. Alternatively, when the Yes button 20 b of the warningscreen 20 is manipulated, displayed on the printer 10 may be a screenfor selecting any one of the first and second delivery forms. In thiscase, the user can select any one of delivery form.

In the above embodiment, when the rapid-pace use of the consumable itemis detected, the warning screen 20 is displayed on the printer 10, butthe warning screen 20 may be displayed on a terminal such as a personalcomputer, a smartphone, or a tablet.

Second Embodiment

In addition to the above embodiment, other embodiments will bedescribed. First, a second embodiment will be described with referenceto FIG. 9. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment inthat the shipping server 200 is not arranged, and the management server100 undertakes the role of the shipping server 200. Thus, when the orderrequest is received from the printer 10 in P3 of FIG. 4A, the CPU of themanagement server 100 orders the a consumable item. In other words, inS507 of FIGS. 5 and 8, the management server 100 does not transmit theorder information to the ordering sever 200 and ships a consumable item.In the second embodiment, the management server 100 is an example ofclaimed “information processing apparatus” and also is an example ofclaimed “server.”

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10.The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, insteadof the management server 100, the PC (personal computer) 300 undertakesthe role of the management server 100. The printer 10 and the shippingserver 200 have the same configurations as those of FIG. 2, and thus adetailed description thereof will be omitted.

The PC 300 according to the third embodiment includes a control unit 301as illustrated in FIG. 10. The control unit 301 includes a CPU and a ROMand a RAM that are electrically connected to the CPU, and constitutes acomputer. The CPU controls an operation of the PC 300 according to aprogram and data stored in the ROM and a storage 302. In the thirdembodiment, the PC 300 is an example of claimed “information processingapparatus.”

The storage 302 is a non-volatile memory device. The storage 302 is, forexample, a hard disk drive. The storage 302 stores various kinds ofprograms for controlling the operation of the PC 300. The storage 302stores the unique information of the printer 10 registered by the userfor each user. The storage 302 is an example of claimed “storage.”

A network I/F 303 is a device for communicating with other devicesconnected to the Internet 800. A known network card may be employed asthe network I/F 303. The PC 300 is connected to a router 30 via thenetwork I/F 303. The PC 300 is connected to the Internet 800 via therouter 30. A USB I/F 308 is connected to a USB I/F 18 of the printer 10.In other words, the PC 300 is connected to the printer 10 through theUSB I/F 308. The respective units are connected to each other through aninput/output port 304. The network I/F 303 is an example of claimed“communication I/F.” Also, the USB I/F 308 is an example of claimed“communication I/F.”

In the third embodiment, the process of K1 to K3 illustrated in FIG. 4A,the consumable item order process illustrated in FIG. 5, and theconsumable item order process illustrated in FIG. 8 are performed by theCPU of the control unit 301 provided in the PC 300. In S502, S508, S510of FIGS. 5 and 8, the CPU may perform transmission and reception withthe printer 10 via the network I/F 303 or the USBI/F 308. In S507 ofFIGS. 5 and 8, the CPU transmits the order information based on theunique information stored in the storage 302 to the shipping server 200through the network I/F 303.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described while referring to FIGS. 11and 12. In the fourth embodiment, the management server 100 is notarranged, and the printer 10 undertakes the role of the managementserver 100. In other words, the process of K1 to K3 illustrated in FIG.4A is performed by the printer 10. The printer 10 and the shippingserver 200 have the same configurations as those in FIG. 2, and thus adetailed description thereof will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment,the printer 10 is an example of claimed “information processingapparatus” and also is an example of claimed “printer.”

The printer 10 of the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 transmitsthe order information of the consumable item of the printer 10 to theshipping server 200. The type information of the consumable item and theunique information of the printer 10 are stored in, for example, a ROMof a controller 11 of the printer 10. The controller 11 is an example ofclaimed “controller.” The ROM of the controller 11 is an example ofclaimed “storage.”

Next, the flow of the consumable item order process will be describedwith reference to FIG. 12. Steps of the same processes as those in FIG.5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereofwill be omitted. This process is a process performed by the CUP of thecontroller 11 of the printer 10. This process starts as electric poweris supplied to the printer 10. The CPU of the controller 11(hereinafter, referred to simply as a “CPU”) is on standby foracquisition of the notification from the detection sensor 15 (S601). Inother words, the “acquisition” means that acquisition of information inthe printer 10. The CPU determines whether or not the notification hasbeen acquired from the detection sensor 15 (S602). When the CPUdetermines that the notification is has not been acquired from thedetection sensor 15 (S602: No), the CPU performs the process in S601again.

On the other hand, when the CPU determines that the notification hasbeen acquired (or received) from the detection sensor 15 (S602: Yes),the CPU determines a type of the acquired notification (S603). When theacquired notification is determined to be a notification of theconsumable item information (S603: consumable item information), thatis, when the notification including the remaining amount of the ink inthe each cartridge 21 connected to the connector 13 is received from thedetection sensor 15, the CPU analyzes the acquired consumable iteminformation, and stores information included in the consumable iteminformation (S604).

The consumable item information includes the remaining amountinformation, the type information, the number of replacements, and theprint count. The “print count” is a value indicating the number of pagesprinted using the current consumable item for the consumable item of thetype indicated by the type information included in the consumable iteminformation. The printer 10 includes, for each type of the consumableitem, a print counter that counts the number of pages printed using thecurrent consumable item. The print counter is initialized to zero eachtime the consumable item is replaced. The printer 10 includes the valueof the print counter in the consumable item information as the printcount.

In S504, the CPU updates the use prediction information on the basis ofthe analysis result.

When the manual order is determined to have not been made (S506: No),the CPU transmits the order information as an order action to theshipping server 200 via the network I/F 16 (S507), and subsequentlyperforms the process in S501. The process in S507 performed by the CPUcorresponds to the process of K3 illustrated in 4A. As described above,the order information transmitted to the shipping server 200 includes:the type information corresponding to the type of the consumable item inwhich the remaining amount has reached the automatic order thresholdvalue; the unique information of the printer 10 corresponding to theconsumable item that is the order target; and the order request. In thefourth embodiment, the network I/F 16 is an example of “communicationI/F.”

When the remaining amount indicated by the acquired consumable iteminformation is determined to have not reached the automatic orderthreshold value yet (S505: No), the CPU determines whether or not therapid-pace use of the consumable item has been detected (S509).

When the CPU determines that the rapid-pace use of the consumable itemhas not been detected (S509: No), the CPU performs the process in S501.On the other hand, when the CPU determines that the rapid-pace use ofthe consumable item has been detected (S509: Yes), the CPU transmits thewarning screen display instruction to the display 19 in order to displaythe warning screen 20 on the display (S610). The determination of CPUthat the rapid-pace use of the consumable item has been detected in S509corresponds to the process of K1 illustrated in FIG. 4A.

As a result of S610, the warning screen 20 is displayed on the display19 of the printer 10. The process of S610 performed by the CPUcorresponds to the process of K2 in the sequence diagram of FIG. 4A.After the process of S610, the CPU performs the process in S501.According to the process of S505, S509, and S610, even in the situationin which the remaining amount of the consumable item indicated by theremaining amount information included in the acquired consumable iteminformation does not reach the automatic order threshold, when therapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected, the CPU of thecontroller 11 transmits the warning screen display instruction todisplay 19, and the warning screen 20 is consequently displayed ondisplay 19.

When the CPU determined that acquired notification is the notificationof the order request in S503 (order request in S503), the CPU performsthe process in S507. The notification of the order request istransmitted to the CPU when the Yes button 20 b of the warning screen 20is manipulated or when an instruction to make an order is inputted to aconfirmation screen (not illustrated) described later. In other words,the transmission of the order information in S507 is performed when theremaining amount of the consumable item indicated by the remainingamount information received from the detection sensor 15 has reached theautomatic order threshold value or when the order instruction isinputted to the warning screen 20 displayed on the display 19 of theprinter 10 on the basis of the detection of the rapid-pace use of theconsumable item.

When the process of S507 is performed on the basis of the acquisition ofthe notification of the order request, the CPU stores in the storage 102manual order completion information indicating that the process of S507is performed. When the acquired notification is determined to be anyother notification (S503: other), the CPU performs the process in S501.Any other notification is transmitted to the CPU when the No button 20 cof the warning screen 20 is manipulated or when an instruction not tomake an order is inputted to the confirmation screen.

When the CPU determines that the manual order has been made in S506(S506: Yes), the CPU transmits an instruction (hereinafter, referred toas a “confirmation screen display instruction”) to display theconfirmation screen to the display 19 (S608). After performing theprocess of S608, the CPU subsequently performs the process in S501. Theconfirmation screen (not illustrated) displayed on the display 19 of theprinter 10 when the remaining amount of the consumable item reaches theautomatic order threshold value after the manual order is placed. Afterthe CPU initially transmits the confirmation screen display instructionin S508, when the corresponding consumable item is replaced, the CPUtransmits an instruction to erase the confirmation screen to the display19. Alternatively, the display 19 that has received the confirmationscreen display instruction displays the confirmation screen and thenerases the confirmation screen after a predetermined period of time (forexample, after 6 hours).

When the manual order is performed on the basis of the rapid-pace use ofthe consumable item, even if the automatic order condition is met later,an order is likely to be unnecessary because the consumable item isredundantly ordered. In this regard, according to the process of S505,S506, and S608, when the automatic order condition is met after themanual order is placed, the confirmation screen is displayed on thedisplay 19 without placing an order (that is, without transmitting theorder information). Therefore, an unnecessary consumable item can beprevented from being delivered uselessly. On the other hand, even whenthe manual order is not placed although the consumable item is used inrapid pace, if the automatic order condition is met later, the orderinformation is transmitted to the shipping server 200 in S507.

In the consumable item order process, the values included in theconsumable item information acquired by the CPU of the controller 11 arestored in a table 102 a (see FIG. 6) installed in the ROM or the RAM ofthe controller 11. In the table 102 a, type information 102 a 2, aremaining amount 102 a 3, the number of replacements 102 a 4, a printcount 102 a 5, and manual order completion information 102 a 6 areassociated with unique information 102 a 1.

When the CPU of the controller 11 acquires the consumable iteminformation, in S504, the values included in the acquired consumableitem information are stored in the table 102 a. Specifically, for theunique information 102 a 1 identifying the printer 10 that is thetransmission source of the consumable item information, the values ofthe remaining amount information, the number of replacements, and theprint count included in the consumable item information are stored inthe remaining amount 102 a 3, the number of replacements 102 a 4, andthe print count 102 a 5, respectively, for each type of the consumableitem indicated by the type information 102 a 2 included in theconsumable item information.

In the printer 10 according to the fourth embodiment, when therapid-pace use of the consumable item is detected on the basis of thechange with time in the remaining amount of the consumable itemindicated by the remaining amount information received from thedetection sensor 15, the user can manually order a new consumable itemthrough the warning screen 20 displayed on the display 19 of the printer10. Thus, even when the remaining amount of the consumable item does notreach the automatic order threshold value, the printer 10 can transmitthe order information to the shipping server 200 on the basis of themanual order placed by the user. Therefore, the order of the newconsumable item can be placed in adequate time despite the rapid-paceusage of the consumable item. Consequently, an occurrence of aproblematic situation in which the user cannot use the printer 10 owingto the completely consumed consumable item can be avoided.

Particularly, when the rapid-pace use of the consumable item isdetected, the printer 10 transmits the order information in response toreceipt of the manual order placed by the user. Thus, in a situation inwhich the detected rapid-pace use is temporary and it is unnecessary toplace an order in view of the remaining amount of the consumable item,the consumable item can be prevented from being inappropriately ordered.

In the above embodiments, the processes described in FIGS. 5, 6, and 12are performed by the CPU of the controllers 101, 301, or 11, but theprocesses described in the respective drawings may be performed bycollaboration of a plurality of CPUs. Also, the processes described inthe respective drawings may be performed by single IC or collaborationof a plurality of ICs such as ASICs. Furthermore, the processesdescribed in the respective drawings may be performed by collaborationof the CPU and the IC such as the ASIC.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: anetwork interface configured to communicate with a server; a storage;and control circuitry configured to: acquire, from a sensor of an imageforming apparatus, remaining amount information about a remaining amountof ink or toner in a printer cartridge currently in use by the imageforming apparatus, the image forming apparatus being included as part ofeither the information processing apparatus or a device external to theinformation processing apparatus; determine whether or not an ordercondition for ordering a new printer cartridge is met on the basis ofthe remaining amount information, the order condition including theremaining amount of ink or toner being at or below a threshold ink ortoner level; in a case where the order condition has not been met:determine a rate of consumption of the ink or toner in the printercartridge currently in use on the basis of the remaining amountinformation; in response to determining that the rate of consumption ofthe ink or toner in the printer cartridge currently in use is above athreshold rate of consumption, provide a user notification indicatingthat the rate of consumption is higher than the threshold rate ofconsumption, wherein the order condition is different from the rate ofconsumption being above the threshold rate of consumption, wherein theuser notification further includes an option to place an order for thenew printer cartridge; after providing the user notification, receive auser instruction to place an order for the new printer cartridge; and inresponse to receipt of the user instruction to place the order of thenew printer cartridge, transmit order information including informationabout the order of the new printer cartridge to the server; and inresponse to determining that the order condition is met before receivingthe user instruction to place the order of the new printer cartridge,transmit the order information to the server.
 2. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitryis further configured to: acquire the remaining amount information at apredetermined time interval; calculate a first consumption inclining ofthe ink or toner in the printer cartridge currently in use on the basisof a plurality of pieces of the remaining amount information acquiredduring a first period of time, the first period of time spanning from afirst timing when the printer cartridge currently in use replaces aprinter cartridge immediately previously used to a second timing whenthe latest remaining amount information is acquired; determine a firstthreshold value on the basis of the first consumption inclining; whenthe remaining amount represented by the remaining amount informationreaches the first threshold value, determine that the order condition ismet; calculate a second consumption inclining of the ink or toner in theprinter cartridge currently in use on the basis of a plurality of piecesof the remaining amount information acquired during a second period oftime, the second period of time spanning from a third timing traced backfrom the second timing by a predetermined period of time shorter thanthe first period of time to the second timing; and perform thedetermination of whether or not the rate of consumption of the ink ortoner in the printer cartridge currently in use is higher than thethreshold rate of consumption on the basis of the second consumptioninclining.
 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the second consumption inclining is represented by a primaryregression straight line expressing a variation with time in theremaining amount of ink or toner of the printer cartridge currently inuse during the second period of time, and wherein the control circuitryis further configured to determine that the printer cartridge currentlyin use has been used in rapid pace when an absolute value of a gradientof the primary regression straight line exceeds a specific value.
 4. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein thespecific value is determined by the control circuitry on the basis of:the remaining amount of ink or toner in the printer cartridgerepresented by the most recently acquired remaining amount information;the second timing; and a number of required delivery days required forcompletion of delivery of the new printer cartridge.
 5. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific value isdetermined by the control circuitry on the basis of: the remainingamount of ink or toner in the printer cartridge represented by the mostrecently acquired remaining amount information; the second timing;number of required delivery days required for completion of delivery ofthe new printer cartridge; and the predetermined time interval.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thecontrol circuitry is further configured to acquire the remaining amountinformation at a time interval shorter than the predetermined timeinterval after the remaining amount represented by the remaining amountinformation has reached a second threshold value larger than the firstthreshold value.
 7. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:determine whether a difference value between the first threshold valueand the remaining amount represented by the remaining amount informationis equal to or smaller than a specific value; and in response todetermining that the difference value is equal to or smaller than thespecific value, perform the determination of whether or not the printercartridge currently in use has been used in rapid pace.
 8. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuitry is further configured to: after receiving a userinstruction not to place the order of the new printer cartridge: inresponse to determining that the order condition is met transmit theorder information; and in response to determining that the ordercondition is met after the user instruction to place the order of thenew printer cartridge is received, notify a user, that the order of thenew printer cartridge has been placed.
 9. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is aprinter, and wherein the remaining amount information includes uniqueinformation, the unique information being for specifying the printer inwhich the printer cartridge is used.
 10. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order information includesunique information and type information, the unique information beingfor specifying a printer corresponding to the image forming apparatusfrom which the remaining amount information is acquired, and wherein theinformation processing apparatus further acquires printer cartridge typeinformation including a type of the printer cartridge to be ordered. 11.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuitry is further configured to acquire the remaining amountinformation at a predetermined time interval.
 12. A printer comprisingthe information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theimage forming apparatus is part of the printer.
 13. A management servercomprising the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.14. A personal computer comprising the information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is external tothe personal computer.
 15. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer,wherein the remaining amount information includes unique information forspecifying the printer, and wherein the remaining amount is used for theprinter specified by the unique information.
 16. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the uniqueinformation is stored in the storage.
 17. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is furtherconfigured to: acquire the remaining amount information at apredetermined time interval, calculate a consumption inclining of theink or toner in the printer cartridge currently in use on the basis of aplurality of pieces of the remaining amount information acquired duringa period of time, the period of time spanning from a first timing whenthe printer cartridge currently in use replaces a printer cartridgepreviously used to a second timing when the latest remaining amountinformation is acquired, determine a threshold value on the basis of theconsumption inclining, when the remaining amount represented by theremaining amount information reaches the threshold value, determine thatthe order condition is met, and determine whether or not the rate ofconsumption of the ink or toner in the printer cartridge currently inuse is higher than the threshold rate of consumption on the basis of adifference value between a first remaining amount and a second remainingamount, the first remaining amount being represented by the currentlyacquired remaining amount information, the second remaining amount beingrepresented by the immediately previously acquired remaining amountinformation.
 18. The information processing apparatus according to claim17, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determinethat the rate of consumption of the ink or toner in the printercartridge currently in use is higher than the threshold rate ofconsumption when the difference value exceeds a specific value.
 19. Aninformation processing apparatus comprising: a storage; and controlcircuitry configured to: acquire, from a sensor of an image formingapparatus, remaining amount information about a remaining amount oftoner or ink in the printer cartridge currently in use by the imageforming apparatus, the image forming apparatus being included as part ofeither the information processing apparatus or a device external to theinformation processing apparatus; determine whether or not an ordercondition for ordering a new printer cartridge is met on the basis ofthe remaining amount information, the order condition including theremaining amount of ink or toner being at or below a threshold ink ortoner level; in a case where the order condition has not been met:determine a rate of consumption of the ink or toner in the printercartridge currently in use on the basis of the remaining amountinformation; in response to determining that the rate of consumption ofthe ink or toner in the printer cartridge currently in use is above athreshold rate of consumption, provide a user notification indicatingthat the rate of consumption is higher than the threshold rate ofconsumption, wherein the order condition is different from the rate ofconsumption being above the threshold rate of consumption, wherein theuser notification further includes an option to place an order for thenew printer cartridge; after providing the user notification, receive auser instruction to place an order for the new printer cartridge; and inresponse to receipt of the user instruction to place the order of thenew printer cartridge, determine to order the new printer cartridge; andin response to determining that the order condition is met beforereceiving the user instruction to place the order of the new printercartridge, transmit order information to a server.